Meter socket with meter jaw and termination connector assembly

Abstract

A meter socket with a meter jaw and termination connector assembly is disclosed. The termination connector is configured to receive a conductor and includes a connector tab with an opening formed therein. The meter jaw is configured to receive a connector blade of an electric meter and includes a boss projecting therefrom. The boss of the meter jaw is positioned within the opening and secured to the connector tab of the termination connector so as mechanically, electrically and thermally connect the meter jaw to the termination connector.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. A meter socket, comprising:
 a meter socket enclosure; and 
 a plurality of meter jaw block assemblies mounted within the meter socket enclosure, wherein each of the meter jaw block assemblies comprises a line-side electrical connector, a load-side electrical connector, and an insulating mounting block configured to support the line-side electrical connector and the load-side electrical connector, wherein the line-side electrical connector and the load-side electrical connector each comprise: (a) a termination connector configured to receive a conductor, wherein the termination connector includes a connector tab with an opening formed therein and (b) a meter jaw configured to receive a connector blade of an electric meter, wherein the meter jaw includes a boss positioned within the opening and secured to the connector tab so as mechanically, electrically and thermally connect the meter jaw to the termination connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The meter socket of  claim 1 , wherein the meter jaw comprises a base with a pair of resilient contacts extending therefrom for receiving the connector blade of the electric meter, and wherein the boss comprises a cylinder that extends between a first end proximal to the base and a second end distal to the base. 
     
     
       3. The meter socket of  claim 1 , wherein the termination connector comprises a connector body having two spaced apart legs connected by a bight section for receiving the conductor, and wherein the connector tab extends from an outer surface of one of the legs. 
     
     
       4. The meter socket of  claim 1 , wherein the boss is secured to the connector tab so as to prevent rotational movement of the meter jaw relative to the termination connector. 
     
     
       5. The meter socket of  claim 4 , wherein the connector tab includes an inner wall that defines the opening, and wherein the boss includes one or more deformations that rotationally lock the boss to the inner wall of the connector tab. 
     
     
       6. The meter socket of  claim 1 , wherein the meter jaw is formed of a conductive material that is ductile to enable expansion of at least a portion of the boss within the opening of the connector tab. 
     
     
       7. The meter socket of  claim 6 , wherein the conductive material comprises copper or a copper alloy. 
     
     
       8. The meter socket of  claim 1 , wherein the boss is secured to the connector tab so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the meter jaw relative to the termination connector. 
     
     
       9. The meter socket of  claim 8 , wherein the boss and the connector tab are swaged together. 
     
     
       10. The meter socket of  claim 8 , wherein the connector tab includes an inner wall that defines the opening, and wherein at least a portion of the boss engages the inner wall of the connector tab to create an interference fit therebetween. 
     
     
       11. An electrical connector for a meter socket, comprising:
 a termination connector that includes a connector tab with an opening formed therein; and 
 a meter jaw that includes a boss positioned within the opening and secured to the connector tab so as to mechanically, electrically and thermally connect the meter jaw to the termination connector. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrical connector of  claim 11 , wherein the meter jaw comprises a base with a pair of resilient contacts extending therefrom for receiving a connector blade of an electric meter, and wherein the boss comprises a cylinder that extends between a first end proximal to the base and a second end distal to the base. 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector of  claim 11 , wherein the termination connector comprises a connector body having two spaced apart legs connected by a bight section for receiving a conductor, and wherein the connector tab extends from an outer surface of one of the legs. 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector of  claim 11 , wherein the boss is secured to the connector tab so as to prevent rotational movement of the meter jaw relative to the termination connector. 
     
     
       15. The electrical connector of  claim 14 , wherein the connector tab includes an inner wall that defines the opening, and wherein the boss includes one or more deformations that rotationally lock the boss to the inner wall of the connector tab. 
     
     
       16. The electrical connector of  claim 11 , wherein the meter jaw is formed of a conductive material that is ductile to enable expansion of at least a portion of the boss within the opening of the connector tab. 
     
     
       17. The electrical connector of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive material comprises copper or a copper alloy. 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector of  claim 11 , wherein the boss is secured to the connector tab so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the meter jaw relative to the termination connector. 
     
     
       19. The electrical connector of  claim 18 , wherein the boss and the connector tab are swaged together. 
     
     
       20. The electrical connector of  claim 18 , wherein the connector tab includes an inner wall that defines the opening, and wherein at least a portion of the boss engages the inner wall of the connector tab to create an interference fit therebetween. 
     
     
       21. A method of making an electrical connector, comprising:
 providing a termination connector that includes a connector tab with an opening formed therein; 
 providing a meter jaw that includes a boss projecting therefrom; 
 positioning the boss of the meter jaw within the opening formed in the connector tab; and 
 forcing a punch into the boss of the meter jaw to secure the boss of the meter jaw to the connector tab of the termination connector. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the meter jaw comprises a base with a pair of resilient contacts extending therefrom for receiving a connector blade of an electric meter, and wherein the boss comprises a cylinder that extends between a first end proximal to the base and a second end distal to the base. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the termination connector comprises a connector body having two spaced apart legs connected by a bight section for receiving a conductor, and wherein the connector tab extends from an outer surface of one of the legs. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the boss is secured to the connector tab so as to prevent rotational movement of the meter jaw relative to the termination connector. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the connector tab includes an inner wall that defines the opening, and wherein the punch creates deformations in the boss that rotationally lock the boss to the inner wall of the connector tab. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the meter jaw is formed of a conductive material that is ductile so that the punch causes expansion of at least a portion of the boss within the opening of the connector tab. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the conductive material comprises copper or a copper alloy. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the boss is secured to the connector tab so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the meter jaw relative to the termination connector. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the punch causes the boss and the connector tab to be swaged together. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the connector tab includes an inner wall that defines the opening, and wherein the punch causes the boss to expand within the opening so that at least a portion of the boss engages the inner wall of the connector tab to create an interference fit therebetween.